Airbus, Rolls-Royce and Siemens this week announced a
partnership that the companies claim will be a “significant step forward in
hybrid-electric propulsion for commercial aircraft.” The E-Fan X
hybrid-electric technology demonstrator is set to take flight in 2020, with the
goal of this new partnership being a revolution in flying that will be clean,
efficient and cost-efficient.
“The E-Fan X is an important next step in our goal of making
electric flight a reality in the foreseeable future. The lessons we learned
from a long history of electric flight demonstrators, starting with the
Cri-Cri, including the e-Genius, E-Star, and culminating most recently with the
E-Fan 1.2, as well as the fruits of the E-Aircraft Systems House collaboration
with Siemens, will pave the way to a hybrid single-aisle commercial aircraft
that is safe, efficient, and cost-effective,” said Paul Eremenko, Airbus’ Chief
Technology Officer. “We see hybrid-electric propulsion as a compelling
technology for the future of aviation.”
The ground test will begin with a British Aerospace 146
flying testbed; however, a two-megawatt electric motor will replace one of the
aircraft’s four gas turbine engines. As testing progresses, a second electric
motor will replace another gas turbine engine. Ultimately, the companies
believe the E-Fan X program could pave the way for safe and reliable hybrid
electric technology, while also serving as a training platform for a new
generation of designers and engineers.
Each company plays a specific role in the development of the
demonstrator, as Airbus will handle the “overall integration” and Rolls-Royce
will be responsible for the turbo-shaft engine, two megawatt generator, and
power electronics, according to a joint statement. Siemens, which previously
announced an E-Aircraft Systems House collaboration with Airbus in 2016, is
providing the two megawatt electric motors and their power electronic control
unit, among other power aspects.
“Siemens has been driving innovation in core technology
fields at full speed,” said Roland Busch, Chief Technology Officer of Siemens.
“In April 2016 we opened a new chapter in electric-mobility with the
collaboration with Airbus. Building up electric propulsion for aircraft, we are
creating new perspectives for our company and also for our customers and
society. With the E-Fan X partnership, we now take the next step to demonstrate
the technology in the air.”
(Evangle Luo of TTFLY shared with you)
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